The five days of over-the-top parades and raucous, alcohol-soaked street parties that make up Rio de Janeiro's world-famous Carnival celebrations kicked off Friday amid a recent avalanche of bad news, including more evidence of Brazil's stalling economy, an ongoing drought and a snowballing corruption scandal at state-run oil giant Petrobras.

As a country that emerged from years of racial segregation, South Africa is often lauded for its reconciliation efforts, but cracks in the foundation of Nelson Mandela's “Rainbow Nation” are starting to show.

The mesmerizing view of illuminated sky lanterns blanketing the dark sky as they float into the heavens has become synonymous with Pingxi, a district of New Taipei City that is just one hour east of Taipei.